Method and machine for winding composite gaskets under uniform pressure



July 12, 1949. w. R. PRICE 4 2,475,856

- METHOD-AND mcnmn FOR vmmme coMPosI'rE GASKETS vUNIFORM PRESSURE Filed uarn 2, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W/L LIAM 1?. PRICE ATTORNEY filed lla'roh 2, 1946 July 12, 1949. w. R. PRICE 2,475,856

Y METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING COMPOSITE GASKETS UNDER UNIFORlLPRESSURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W/LL/AM R. PRICE ATTORN EY PRICE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING COMPOSITE July 12, 1949.

GASKETS UNDER UNIFORM PRESSURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1946 INVENTOR W/L L/AM R. PRICE BY 4,

TTO RN EY y 12, 1949- w. R. ICE 2,475,856

- METHOD AND MACHINE F DING COMPOSITE GASKETS UNDER UNIF PRESSURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 2, 1946 INVENTOR W/LL/AM R. PR/CE BY I ATTORNEY July 12, 1949. w, R E 2,475,856

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING COMPOSITE GASKETS UNDER UNIFORM PRESSURE Filed March 2, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR W/LL/AM R. P/P/CE ATTORNEY July 12,, 1949. w. R. PRICE 2,475,356

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING COMPOSITE v GASKETS UNDER UNIFORM PRESSURE Filed March 2, 1946 e Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR W/LL/AM R. PR/CE. BY

AT TORN EY July 12, 1949. w. R. PRICE 2,475,356

'METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING COMPOSITE GASKETS UNDER UNIFORM PRESSURE Filed March 2, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 k '-P' I22 I34- REG P c E f:- (5 155 ":11" x Q INVENTOR W/LUAM R. PRICE BY I TORNEY July 12, 1949. w. R. PRICE 2,475,856

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING COMPOSITE v GASKETS UNDER UNIFORM PRESSURE Filed March 2, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Zhwentor 1444mm) 1?. P/P/CE (Ittomeg Patented July 12, 1949 Ms'rnon AND MACHINE FOR WINDING COMPOSITE GASKETS UNDER vnmomu PRESSURE William R. Price, Rosemontf Pa... assignor to Flexitallic Gasket Company, Camden, N. J., a corporation o f New Jersey Application March 2, 1948, Serial No. 651,594 9 Claims. (Cl. 159-94) This invention relates to a machine for use in winding composite compressible gaskets of the same general type as the gasket disclosed in the Henry H. Bohmer, Jr., Patent No. 1,829,709, issued October 27, 1931, and in my Patent No. 2,442,311dated May 25, 1948.

Gaskets of this type are extensively used in all types of high pressure fluid systems, and generally comprise a spirally wound longitudinally corrugated metallic strip with suitable non-metallic packing'material between the convolutions of the metallic strip. They are made in many different sizes and shapes, depending upon their intended use. The central opening through the gasket may be circular, elliptical, square, or any other desired form.

In manufacturing these gaskets the metallic strip and the non-metallic packing material are wound upon a rotating mandrel having a peripheral contour corresponding to the central opening through the gasket. One turn of the metallic strip is wound upon the mandrel and spot-welded together and then the metallic strip is wound upon itself for several more convolutions and then spot-welded together again. The non-metallic packing material is now applied and the two are spirally wound together for the desired number of convolutions. At the end of the packing material the abutting convolutions of the metallic strip are spot-welded together and then the metallic strip is wound upon itself for several more convolutions and the end of the strip spotwelded to the underlying convolution.

As the gaskets are being wound the convolutions are pressed tightly together between the mandrel and a cooperating guiding and forming member to which a predetermined pressure is radially applied. This pressure is dependent upon the desired density of the gasket being wound, the greater the pressure, the greater the density. In order to produce gaskets which measure up to the rigid specifications demanded by the trade, it is necessary that the predetermined pressure be accurately maintained without fluctuation throughout the winding of the gasket. In making some of the denser type gaskets it is also necessary to exert a predetermined drag upon the metal strip as it is being fed to the mandrel.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 581,277, filed March 6, 1945, and subsequently abandoned.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved machine for spirally winding composite gaskets.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a machine of this character improved means for accurately maintaining a predetermined unvarying pressure upon the convolutions of a spirally wound composite gasket as it is being wound upon a mandrel.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in. a machine for spirally winding composite gaskets, improved means for exerting a predetermined drag upon a metal strip as it is being fed into the machine.

Still another object of my invention is to provide, in a machine for spirally winding composite gaskets on a mandrel, improved means for automatically stripping the finished gasket from the mandrel.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gasket winding machine constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the left half of my improved machine viewed from the side indicated by the line 2-4 of Fig 1. Fig. 2a is a perspective of the right half of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the drag exerting means, the forming rolls and the guiding and forming mem er, the section being taken on a medial plane between the pivoted arm by which these parts are carried;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 9-5 of Fig. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section through the forming rolls;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section through a portion .of the guiding and forming member;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the drag exerting mechanism taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fluid pressure system;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a machine equipped with automatic means for stripping a completed gasket from the mandrel;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section through the asket stripping mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fluid pressure operating mechanism of the gasket stripping means;

Fig. 14 is a detail view illustrating the manner 3 in which the control valve of the gasket stripping means is automatically operated; and

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section taken on the I line |l5 of Fi 1.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters the numeral I indicates a hollow base having a pair of spaced vertically extending uprights 2 and 3 secured to the top thereof. A shaft 4 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearings at the upper ends of the uprights 2 and 3 has a fly wheel 5 loosely mounted thereon. The fly wheel 5, during operation, is constantly rotated by a motor 3 through a pulley I and belt 8, and is connected to and disconnected from the shaft 4 by any suitable clutch 3 which is manually operated through a pivoted lever in and connecting linkages ll between the upper end of the lever and the clutch 9. The motor 6 is mounted on a platform i2 which is adjustably pivoted to the rear side of the base 1 near the upper end thereof. The platform 12 is held in its adjusted position by a depending arm [3 and a bolt l4 (Fig. 10) carried by the arm I3 and adapted to bear against the rear wall of the base. By properly adjusting the platform l2, the desired tension may be maintained upon the belt 8.

A small pinion l5 keyed to the shaft 4 meshes with a large gear l6 which is keyed to one end of a mandrel shaft l1 rotatably supported in bearings l8 carried by the uprights 2 and 3 below the shaft 4. A mandrel l9, upon which a longitudinally corrugated metallic ribbon and a ribbon of non-metallic fibrous material are spirally wound in alternate convolutions to form the gasket, is removably secured to the other end of the shaft IT. The peripheral contour of the mandrel i9 is the same as the central opening through the gasket being formed thereon and may be any size and shape as desired.

A guiding and forming member, generally indicated by the numeral 20, is rotatably supported in operative relation to the mandrel l9 upon a bearing 2| and shaft 22 between two spaced parallel arms 23. The member 2!! guides and supports the ribbons of gasket material as they are wound upon the mandrel l9. During the winding the member is forced toward the mandrel with a predetermined unvarying pressure by means hereinafter described and it regulates the thickness and density of the gasket.

The arms 23 are pivotally mounted at the rear ends thereof upon a stud 24 which is secured to the upper end of a slide 25, at the rear thereof. The slide 25 is slidably mounted for vertical movement upon a guide 26 secured to one side of the base I. A screw 21 which is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner in a vertical slot 28 in the guide 26 extends through and engages a threaded bore in a block 29 which is rigidly secured to the inner face of the slide 25 and projects into the slot 28. The screw 21 is rotated by a crank 30 applied to the upper squared ends thereof and is operative to adjust the slide up and down as desired upon the guide 26 and to hold the slide in adjusted position. Bolts 3| are also provided for rigidly clamping the slide to the guide in the desired position. A bracket 32 is rigidly secured per end of the cylinder 33 and is pivotally connected to the forward ends of the arms 23 by a clevis 38 and a pin 39. Air under a predetermined pressure is constantly admitted to the cylinder 33 beneath the piston 33 during the operation of the machine. This air pressure. during the winding of the gasket on the mandrel l3, urges the piston 38 upwardly in the cylinder 33 .which at its upper end to the slide 25 and extends through the piston rod 31 lifts the forward ends of the arms 23, rocking them on the stud 24. The arms 23 in turn hold the member 20 tightly against the gasket as it is being wound on the mandrel It with a pressure which is directly proportionate to the pressure of the air beneath the piston 33. In winding a truly circular gasket there is no oscillating movement imparted to the arms 23. The only movement is a slow constant downward movement as the diameter of the gasket increases upon the mandrel i3. But in winding other shaped gaskets, such as the elliptical gasket shown herein, the arms 23 are oscillated through a. considerable distance about the stud 26, which movesthe piston 33 up and down in the cylinder 33 against the pressure of the air therein. This up and down movement of the piston 38 would normally cause a substantial fluctuation in the pressure of the air in the cylinder 33, the amount of fluctuation depending on the distance the piston 36 was moved. Since it is essential, in order to get good gaskets, that the pressure applied to the gasket as it is being wound be maintained constant without fluctuation, means are provided which eliminate this fluctuation in pressure. Means are also provided, in connection therewith, for over coming the pressure beneath the piston 36 so as to move the piston down in the cylinder 33 to withdraw the guiding and forming member 23 away from the finished gasket on the mandrel I3 and allow it to be stripped therefrom. These means will now be described in connection with Fig. 10.

A surge tank 40 having many times the volumetric capacity of the cylinder 33 is provided within the base I. A conduit 4| connects the upper end of the tank 40 with the lower end of the cylinder 33, beneath the piston 36. The conduit 4| is connected by a conduit 42 to a supply line 43 which in turn is connected to any suitable source of compressed air. Air then is admitted under pressure to the surge tank 40 and the cylinder 33 from the supply line 43 through the conduits 42 and 4i. The pressure of the air in the tank 40 and cylinder 33 is controlled and adjusted by a pressure regulator valve 44 and a gauge 45 in the conduit 42, it being understood that different types of gaskets require that different pressures be applied thereto by the member 20 during winding. The combined volumetric capacity of the tank 40 and the cylinder 33 is so largethat the slight variation therein due to any movement of the piston 38 in the cylinder 33 will have no appreciable eifect upon the pressure of the air therein.

The movement of the arms 23 to bring the guiding and forming member 20 into and out of operative association with the mandrel i3 is controlled by a foot-operated three-way valve 43 having ports 41, 48 and 43, and valves 50 and 5| which are urged to closed position by springs 52 and are opened by a foot treadle 53. The port 41 is connected to the supply line 43 by a conduit 54, and the port 48 is connected to the top of the cylinder 33 above the piston 33 by a conduit 53. A lubricator 56 for supp ying lubricant to the cylinder 33 is connected to the conduit 88. Dur... ing the winding of a gasket the valve 56 is closed and the valve II is open. This vents the top of the cylinder 33 above the piston 38 to the atmosphere through the passageway 81 and port 48, and allows the constant predetermined pressure in the cylinder 33 below the piston 38 to force the piston 36 up in the cylinder 33 which raises the forward ends of the arm 23, and they in turn bring the member 26 up into operative relationship with the mandrel I9. After a gasket has been wound the treadle 53 is depressed by the operator to the position shownin Fig. which opens the valve 56 and closes the valve 5|. This will admit air under full line pressure, which is considerably greater than the pressure in the tank 46, to the top of the cylinder 33 above the piston 36, through the passageway 58 and conduit 55. The piston 36 will then be forced down in the cylinder 33 against the pressure of the air therebeneath, which lowers the forward ends of the arm 23 and moves the member 26 away from the mandrel I9 so that the finished gasket can be stripped from the mandrel. When the operator removes his foot from the treadle 53 the treadle will be raised by a spring 58 which opens the valve 6| and allows the valve 56 to close. The top of the cylinder 33 will then again be vented to the atmosphere and the pressure beneath the piston 36 will raise the parts back to winding position.

During winding the metallic ribbon 66 is drawn from a reel 6I by the mandrel I9. From the reel 6i the ribbon extends up over a roller 62 and then forwardly under the arms 23 and over a roller 63 rotatably supported by the pin 39 between the arm of the clevis 38. After leaving the roller 63 the ribbon 66 passes between two forming rolls 64 and 65 and from there to the mandrel I9 Where the end of the ribbon is secured in a notch 66 (Fig. 2) in the periphery of the mandrel. As the ribbon is drawnbetween the forming rolls 64 and 65, a. centrally disposed longitudinally extending bead or corrugation 61 is formed therein.

The forming roll 66 is mounted on a bearing 68 carried by a shaft 69 extending between the arms 23. The cooperating forming roll 65 is mounted on a bearing 16 carried by an eccentric "II rotatably supported between the arms 23 below the shaft 69. A depending lever 12, which is fastened to the eccentric shaft 13, has one end of a coiled spring 14 (Fig. 3) secured thereto as indicated at 15. The other end of the spring 16 is fastened to a lug on the adjacent arm 23. The spring I4 through the lever I2 urges the eccentric II in a, counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, which yieldingly holds the forming roll 65 against the ribbon 66 with a predetermined pressure which is dependent upon the tension of the spring It. With this construction the forming rolls 66 and 65 will automatically adjust themselves to any variation in the thickness of the ribbon, such as a welded joint. When inserting a new ribbon the operator moves the roll 65 away from the roll 66 by rotating the eccentric II in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) with the lever I2.

After the metallic ribbon 66 has been wound upon itself, on the mandrel I9, for several convolutions, the ends of two ribbons 16 of fibrous packing material are inserted. The ribbons T6 are inserted side by side and their combined width is equal to the width of the metallic ribbon 66. The metallic ribbon 66 and the ribbons v 16 of packing material are then wound together in alternate convolution; until the gasket reaches the proper size. The metallic ribbon is then wound upon itself for several more convolutions and cut off. The end is then spot-welded to the underlying ribbon, and the finished gasket is stripped from the mandrel after the guiding and forming member 26 has been moved out of the way. The machine is now ready to start winding the next gasket.

It has been found that in winding denser type gaskets better results are obtained if a drag is exerted on the metallic ribbon 86 as it is drawn from the reel 6| towards the mandrel I3. For this purpose I have provided a drag exerting mechanism generally indicated by the numeral Tl through which the metallic ribbon 66 is drawn between the rollers 82 and 83. This drag mechanism includes a block I8 which is secured to and between the arms 23 and projects downwardly therefrom. A centrally disposed downwardly extending rib I8 on the block I8 cooperates with a complementary groove 86 formed in the upper surface of a block ill. The ribbon 66 is drawn through the groove 86beneath the rib I8. The block 8| has a cylindrical chamber 82 therein which is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end. A piston 83, which is supported by a plate 86 suspended by bolts 85 below the block 8|, extends into the chamber 82. The bolts 85 are secured to the block 18 and extend downwardly therefrom through apertures in the block 8| so that the block BI may move up and down thereon. Pins 86 which are secured to the upper surface of the block 8i extend up into recesses 81 formed in the sides of the block 18. A lever 88 having a bifurcated lower end 86, the legS of which terminate in cams 96, is pivotally supported by a bolt ill with the cams 86 disposed in the recesses 81 above the upper ends of the pins 86. Air under a predetermined pressure which is controlled by a pressure regulator valve 92 and a gauge 63, is constantly admitted to the chamber 82 above the piston 83 through a conduit 96. This air pressure urges the block 8! upwardly, on the bolts 45 85 and piston 83, into frictional engagement with the ribbon 66 beneath the rib It. This frictional engagement of the block 6i with the ribbon 68 exerts a dragging or braking action upon the ribbon 66 which tends to retard its movement as 50 it is drawn through the groove 86. The amount of drag isv regulated by the air pressure in the chamber 82, the greater the pressure the greater the drag. If it is desired to release the drag on the ribbon or to insert a new ribbon, the lever 86' is swung to the right (Fig. 3) which causes the cams 96 to engage the pins 86 and depress the block 8I against the air pressure in the chamber 82, thus increasing the distance between the bottom of the rib l9 and the top of the block iii in the groove 86. This will release all drag on the ribbon 66 and will enable the ready insertion of a new ribbon.

The guiding and forming member 26 includes a hub I66 (Fig. 5) which has an annular flange IN at one end thereof and has the other end threaded for the reception of a nut I62. Removably secured upon the hub I 66 between the flange IN and the nut I62 are a pair of similar circular confining discs I63 and a pair of similar circular 76 pressure discs I64, which are disposed between the discs I63. I

The adjacent edges of the discs I64 are beveled to form a V-shaped annular groove I65 into which the bead 61 of the metallic ribbon 66 projects during winding. The combined width of the amuse 7 discs I04 is equal to the width of the mandrel I9, and to the width of the ribbon 80 after it has had the bead 61 formed therein, and it is through these discs I04 that the radial pressure is applied to the gasket as it is being wound.

The diameter of the discs I03 is greater than the diameter of the discs I00. The difference in diameter between the discs I03 and I04 is dependent upon the size of the gasket being wound and is slightly greater than twice the difference between the inner and outer peripheries thereof. Each disc I04 has a plane surface I03 concentric with and of the same diameter as the discs I03. From the plane surface I03, the discs I04 are flared outwardly at an angle of about 4 as indicated at I01 (Fig. 7). The discs I confine and form the gasket laterally as it is being wound. The flare or taper I01 eliminates uncontrolled friction due to the lateral or side pressure of the gasket as it is being wound under the substantial radial pressure exerted by the disc I04. It also shapes the gasket with a taper so that it gradually decreases in thickness from the inner periphery to the outer periphery. This slight taper has been found to be very desirable in gaskets of this type as is pointed out in my aforesaid co-pending application.

After a gasket has been wound upon the mandrel I9 it frictionally adheres thereto so tightly that it is necessary to use a suitable tool to manually strip it therefrom. This method of removing the basket from the mandrel consumes considerable time and sometimes damages the gasket.

In Figs. 11 to 14 I have illustrated poweroperated means for automatically stripping the gasket from the mandrel. This means is rendered operative by the downward movement of the arms 23 as they are withdrawing the member 20 from operative association with the mandrel.

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 14 the numeral I I0 indicates a mandrel shaft having a threaded bore III in the end thereof, into which the shank II2 ofa mandrel I I3 is removably secured. A gasket stripping sleeve H4 is slidably mounted about the mandrel shank II 2 and the end of the mandrel shaft I I0, and is constrained to rotate therewith by means of a key II5 carried by the shaft H0 and projecting into an elongated keyway H6 in the sleeve I I4. The inner periphery I I1 of the outer open end of the sleeve II4 adjacent the mandrel H3 is the same size and shape as the periphery of the mandrel II3. To strip a gasket from the mandrel II3, the sleeve II4 is moved from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12 by a lever II8 which is pivotally secured at its upper end to a lug II9 projecting outwardly from the upright 2. The lever H8 is enlarged intermediate its ends and has a circular bore I therethrough, through which the sleeve II4 extends. The rear end of the sleeve II4 within the bore I20 is enlarged as indicated at I2I and has an annular groove I22 therein. A pair of arcuate shoes I23 are disposed within the groove I22 and each carries a trunnion I24 which extends outwardly into a bearing I25 in the lever H8.

The lower end of the lever I I8 is pivotally connected to the outer end of a piston rod I26 which is secured at its inner end to a piston I21 within a cylinder I28. The forward end of the cylinder I 28 s connected by a conduit I29 to the bottom of a chamber I30 which is filled with oil up to the level marked A in Fig. 13. The upper end of the chamber I30 is connected by a conduit I3I. to a pressure tank I32. Air under pressure is admitted to the tank I32 from the supply line 43 through a conduit I33; and from the tank I32 to the chamber I30 above the oil therein through the conduit I3I. The pressure of the air within the tank I32 and chamber I30 is controlled and regulated by a pressure regulator valv'e I34 and a gauge I33. The rear end of the cylinder I23 behind the piston I21 is either vented to the atmosphere or connected to the line 43 by a conduit I36 and a three way valve I31 of standard construction, which is suitably secured to the slide 25. The valve I31 is spring operated to vent the cylinder I28 to the atmosphere, and is operated to connect the cylinder I28 to the high pressure air line 43 by the movement of the arms 23 through a depending latch I38 and a lever I39, which is pivoted at I40 to an ear I extending upwardly from the valve body. The latch I33 is pivoted at I42 to one of the arms 23 and is arranged to engage the end of the lever I38 when the'arms 23 are in the up or winding position.

After a gasket has been completed the treadle 53 is depressed to effect lowering of the forward ends of the arms 23, as has been previously described. As the arms 23 carry the latch I38 downwardly it will depress the end of the lever I39 which will operate the valve I31 to connect the cylinder I28 behind the piston I21 to the air supply line 43. This will force the piston I21 forwardly in the cylinder I28 and. through the piston rod I26 and lever II8, move the sleeve II4 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12, stripping the gasket from the mandrel I I3. After the arm 23 has depressed the lever I39 9. predetermined distance the latch I38 will be moved out of engagement with the end of the lever I39 by an upwardly extending abutment I43, secured to the lever I39, as shown in Fig. 14. The lever will then be returned to its normal up position and the valve I31 operated to vent the cylinder I28 to the atmosphere which will permit the air pressure in the tank I32 and chamber I30 to move the piston I21 rearwardly in the cylinder I28 returning the sleeve I I4 from the dotted line position (Fig. 12) back to its normal position. The oil in the chamber I30 and the forward end of the cylinder I28 acts as a cushion and prevents a too rapid operation of the sleeve II4.

Suitable electric welding apparatus for spotwelding the convolutions of the gasket together at the proper places is provided. upon the machine, but since that apparatus forms no part of this invention it is not illustrated or described herein.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that I have provided a simple and efilcient mechanism for accomplishing the objects of my invention.

It is to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction shown and described herein as various modifications can be made therein within the scop of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for spirally winding composite gaskets having alternate convolutions of metallic and nonmetallic material the combination of a mandrel upon which said material is wound to 2. In a machine for spirally winding composite gaskets having alternate convolutions of metallic and nonmetallio material the combination of a mandrel upon which said material is wound to form a gasket, means for rotating said mandrel, guiding and forming means engaging the sides and the outer periphery of the gasket during winding, means for yieldingly holding said guiding and forming means against the outer periphery of the gasket with a predetermined pressure during winding, said guiding and forming means comprising a composite member made up of inner and outer concentrically disposed circular discs, said outer discs being of greater diameter than said inner discs and having opposed surfaces which flare outwardly from the periphery of said inner discs.

3. The method of making composite compressible gaskets comprising spirally winding strips of material in alternate convolutions upon a mandrel, applying a predetermined radially directed unvarying pressure to the outer convolution as the gasket is being wound and confining the sides of the gasket at the point Where the pressure is applied between confining members having opposed outwardly flaring surfaces. I

4. The method of making composite compressible gaskets comprising spirally winding strips of material in alternate convolutions upon a mandrel, applying a predetermined radially directed unvarying pressure to the outer convolution as the gasket is being wound and so confining the sides of the gasket during winding that the finished gasket is caused to taper in thickness from its inner periphery to its outer periphery.

5. The method of making composite compressible gaskets comprising spirally winding astrip' of longitudinally beaded metallic material of uniform width and a second strip of material in alternate convolutions upon a mandrel, applying a predetermined radially directed unvarying pressure to the outer convolution as the gasket is being wound of a value to deform the bead and cause each convolution to gradually increase inwidth as successive convolutions are wound thereupon and so confining the sides of the gasket during winding that the finished gasket is caused to taper in-thickness from its inner to its outer periphery.

6. In a machine for spirally winding composite gaskets including a metal ribbon, the combination of a frame, a mandrel upon which the gasket is wound rotatably supported by said frame, means for'rotating said mandrel, an arm end of said rod being pivotally connected to the free end of said arm, means including a surge tank for constantly exerting a predetermined substantially unvarying fluid pressure against one end of said piston, and means for selectively exerting a greater fluid pressure against the other end of said piston for retracting the pressure roller.

7. In a machine for spirally winding composite gaskets including a metal ribbon, the combination of a frame, a mandrel upon which the gasket is wound rotatably supported by said frame, means for rotating said mandrel, a normally stationary slide secured to said frame for vertical adjustment in accordance with the size of the gasket being wound, an arm pivotally secured at one end to said slide, a pressure roller mounted on said arm intermediate the ends thereof for cooperating with said mandrel in winding said gasket, forming rollers mounted on said arm adjacent its free end to receive and form said ribbon prior to passage to said mandrel for winding, a bracket secured to said slide and projecting outwardly therefrom, a cylinder pivotally secured at one end to said bracket, a piston slidably mounted in and having its rod projecting from the other end of said cylinder, the free end of said rod being pivotally connected to the free end of said arm, means including a surge tank for constantly exerting a predetermined substantially unvarying fluid pressure against one end of said piston for holding said pressure roller in pressure engagement with the gasket on said mandrel, and means for selectively exerting a greater fluid pressure against the other end of said piston for retracting the pressure roller.

8. In a gasket winding machine, as set forth in claim 6 a stripping sleeve mounted on said mandrel for rotation therewith and slidable axially thereof, fluid pressure means to advance said sleeve axially for stripping the wound gasket from the mandrel, and means responsive to the retraction of said arm to actuate said last fluid pressure means.

9. In a gasket winding machine, as set forth in claim 6, eccentric means mounting one of said forming rollers for movement toward or away from the other forming roller, resilient means urging said eccentric means in a direction to hold said rollers in pressure engagement, and means shifting said eccentric means to separate said rollers for threading said ribbon.

WILLIAM R. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 650,887 Wilkerson June 5, 1900 1,388,428 Hessing Aug. 23, 1921 1,475,855 Murdock Nov. 27, 1923 1,503,272 Lewellyn July 29, 1924 1,627,604 Hittle May 10, 1927 1,793,104 Larsen Feb.,17, 1931 2,176,719 Peyton Oct. 17, 1939 2,324,115 Schultz Jul 13, 1943 2,389,109 Weisberger Nov. 13, 1945 

